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Friday, February 19, 2016
Go Montgomery - February 18, 2016
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Contact 311 to Report Potholes
MCDOT
repairs potholes every day of the year except during rain and snow – and this
year has been no exception. However, “Snowzilla” and this past weekend’s storms
have accelerated the creation of potholes. Division of Highway Services’ crews
have been making repairs, but they also need the public’s help. With more than
5,200 lane miles of roads to cover, MCDOT relies on residents to report pothole
locations. As repair crews are dispatched to reported problems, they also stop
to fill any other potholes encountered as they make their rounds.
Residents
can report potholes online
or by calling the MC311 Call Center at 311 or 240-777-0311, Monday through
Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drivers are asked to be cautious and patient
when encountering crews filling potholes.
Residents
can report potholes online
or by calling the MC311 Call Center at 311 or 240-777-0311, Monday through
Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Drivers are asked to be cautious and patient
when encountering crews filling potholes.
The
Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) fills potholes, plows snow and
maintains numbered routes in the County, such as Maryland routes 355 or 97.
MSHA can be reached at 301-513-7300 or online.
In addition, municipalities, such as the cities of Rockville or Gaithersburg,
handle their own repairs.
For most
potholes, MCDOT will be using what is called “cold patch” material.
However, where potholes require more than a simple fix, the area may need to be
excavated and repaved with asphalt, which may take more than one visit to
repair.
Become an Adopt a Road or Adopt a Spot Volunteer
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| Charles P. Johnson & Associations have been in the AAR program since 2012 adoping Powder Mill Road in Silver Spring |
Join hundreds of volunteers who
have adopted more than 300 road segments and spots by participating in the
Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Adopt A Road (AAR) and
Adopt A Spot (AAS) programs. Individuals, clubs, organizations and businesses
help keep our neighborhoods attractive, clean, safe and litter-free by
regularly removing accumulated trash alongside more than 1,100 lane miles of
adopted roadways and at locations, such as parks, open spaces and
right-of-ways. Not only do they enhance the appearance of our community, they
also are improving our environment.
Roadside litter is a pollutant that
can wash into storm drains that flow into watersheds. The trash that ends up in
nearby creeks and streams can eventually be swept all the way to the Chesapeake
Bay, degrading water quality and harming our fisheries and wildlife. AAR and
AAS volunteers help safeguard our waterways and protect the water supply.
There are several benefits to becoming an AAR or AAS Volunteer:
There are several benefits to becoming an AAR or AAS Volunteer:
- MCDOT recognizes you by posting a sign with your name on it at the beginning and end of your adopted roadway segment or at your adopted spot.
- We provide safety equipment and supplies, including reflective vests, heavy duty gloves, trash bags and trash pickup sticks.
- MCDOT recognizes those who collect the most trash every month through the Clean Sweeps Awards program.
- We publicize volunteer efforts through our monthly, AAR e-newsletter, on our website, through press releases and at special awards ceremonies.
Silver Spring to Get a Protected Bike Lane in 2016
At a community workshop in February
attended by over 70 community members, Montgomery County’s Department of
Transportation (MCDOT) unveiled plans for protected bike lanes on Spring Street
and Cedar Street in downtown Silver Spring. Stretching almost one mile from
Second Avenue to Wayne Avenue, the lanes will sit against the curb, separated
from car traffic by a painted buffer, vertical posts and parked cars.
Following the short Woodglen
protected bike lane installed in White Flint in 2014, this project will be the
second on street bike facility in the County that puts cyclist safety and
comfort first.
Read more.
Read more.
MCDOT Retiming Traffic Signals in Silver Spring to Give More Crossing Time to Pedestrians
MCDOT’s Traffic
Engineering Division is retiming all the traffic signals in the Silver Spring
Central Business District to provide more time for pedestrians to cross the
street. Crews began work on Sunday, February 14 and will complete the retiming
on Sunday, February 21. MCDOT is modifying 34 signals to allow pedestrians 3.5
seconds per foot of crossing time.
Pedestrians are urged
to remember to press the pedestrian push-to-walk button to get the pedestrian
walk signal.
Leggett Seeks Applicants for Taxicab Services Commission
Montgomery County Executive Isiah
Leggett is seeking applicants to fill 11 vacancies on the Taxicab Services
Commission. The positions will be allocated as follows:
- Four public members, of which one must represent senior citizens, and one must represent persons with disabilities;
- Seven taxicab industry representatives, of which three must represent management, two must be owner-drivers and two must be non-owner drivers.
Additional members of the Taxicab Services Commission are the ex officio, non-voting Director of the Department
of Transportation, or the Director’s representative, and Chair of the County
Council’s Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee, or
the Chair’s representative.
The Commission must conduct a
review of the County taxicab industry and submit a report to the County
Executive and County Council each even-numbered year. The report describes the
status of the industry and identifies any changes to the regulation of the
industry that the Commission finds necessary or desirable. These
recommendations could cover licenses in circulation, rates, fees, insurance,
accessibility, affiliation and dispatch requirements.
Members serve three-year terms
without compensation, but are eligible for reimbursement for travel and
dependent care for meetings attended. Meeting dates and locations will be
determined.
Applications are due February 26. Apply online.
Repairs to Middlebrook Lane Culvert Complete
MCDOT's Division of Highway Services has completed emergency
culvert repairs for a collapsed pipe on Middlebrook Road between Great Seneca
Highway and Cross Ridge Drive. Highway Services also repaved that section of
the road.
New Bikeshare Station Installed at Mallory Square
Montgomery County’s 53rd
Bikeshare station is now open at Mallory Square Station, located at Key West
Avenue and Siesta Key Way, Rockville. The original installation date for the station was
delayed due to Snowzilla. Crews were able to fit in installation of this
station ahead of the one planned next week for the Medical Center Metro
Station.
The Mallory Square Bikeshare
15-dock Station was funded by the developer of the Mallory Square Apartments,
who also paid for a set of replacement bikes and 12 years of station operating
costs.
The Medical Center Bikeshare
station installation is planned for February 23 and will be located between the
Metro station and the Kiss and Ride parking lot. The station will feature 10
bikes, with room for 19 bikes to dock. However, work could be delayed if a
predicted winter storm arrives in our area that day.
Montgomery County’s Capital
Bikeshare program was launched in September 2013 in Bethesda, Friendship
Heights, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Rockville, Shady Grove and the Life
Sciences Center area. Bikeshare ridership helps reduce the number of people
driving alone, improves air quality and maximizes the County’s investment in
transit infrastructure like Ride On.
More information about Capital Bikeshare is available
online.
Free VanGo Bus in Silver Spring Runs Evenings and Saturdays, Too
Getting
around in Silver Spring is a lot easier with the VanGo bus’ expanded hours. The
free service, which is also known as Ride On Route 28, provides service to and
from the Silver Spring Metro station. The route’s main stops include Kennett Street,
East West Highway, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Second
Avenue, Cameron Street and Fenton Street. Check the route and schedule online.
Public Has Another Opportunity to Comment on the Proposed Closure of Hermitage Avenue in Wheaton
A continuation of the public
hearing to obtain input on the proposed closure of the Hermitage Avenue
right-of-way at its intersection with Georgia Avenue is planned for 7 p.m. on
Wednesday, February 24. The closure is part of a Montgomery County
Department of General Services (DGS) project to construct a new Wheaton
Library/Community Recreation Center.
DGS is proposing to
create a new right-of-way for vehicle and pedestrian use that will link to the
existing portion of Hermitage Avenue. The new right-of-way will open before the
closure of the old section of Hermitage Avenue. The pavement will be removed
from the old section, but it will remain accessible to pedestrians.
The hearing will be
held in the Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, 7th
Floor.
Green Streets Drive Runoff in the Right Direction
Through a partnership between the
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the
Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), MCDOT has helped DEP
create green streets to minimize rain and snow runoff—and the pollution that
can result. Runoff, especially on roads and parking lots, pick up pollutants on
their way to storm drains that eventually end up reaching our waterways. Read more
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| This is a beautiful green street project in Silver Spring - green Streets use a variety of techniques to treat and filter stormwater close to the source. |
Metro Invites Public Feedback on its Proposed FY17 Budget
The Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority (Metro) invites the public to provide feedback on its
proposed Fiscal Year 2017 operating budget as well as the capital improvement
plan and Federal grant applications.
The budget proposal includes no
fare increases and no service reductions.
Several key initiatives that are being considered are:
- Elimination of SmarTrip® loading on Metrobus
- Establishment of a University Pass (U-Pass)
- Establishment of a Bus/Rail Combination Pass
- Establishment of a same station entry/exit grace period
Comments on the proposed budget
must be received by 9 a.m., Monday, February 29. The following opportunities
are available for the public to provide input:
- Take an online survey at wmata.com/budget.
- Provide
feedback to staff at the following locations/dates*:o Rosslyn Station, Tuesday, February 16 from 4-7 p.m. o Fort Totten Station, Wednesday, February 17 from 4-7 p.m. o Anacostia Station, Thursday, February 18 from 4-7 p.m.
- Email comments to writtentestimony@wmata.com.
- Attend the formal public hearing on Monday, February 22* at 6:30 p.m., with an information session at 6 p.m. at Metro Headquarters Building, 600 Fifth St. NW, Washington, DC 20001.
*Note that dates may change due to
weather and check wmata.com/budget
for any schedule changes.
To view the full docket and for
more information about the operating and capital budget, visit wmata.com/budget.
SHA Work on New Bridge Will Require Lane Closures on MD 193 and I-495
The Maryland Department of
Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) advises motorists who
travel on MD 193 (University Boulevard) or I-495 (Capital Beltway) in Silver
Spring that upcoming lane closures will impact overnight travel for the next
month.
A 161-foot, 175-ton crane will be
used to lift the steel beams for a new bridge and crews will work above the
I-495 lanes to tighten the steel beam bolts. SHA will work on the steel beams
over the Outer Loop first. Once all Outer Loop beam work is complete, crews
will repeat the process to insert beams over the Inner Loop.
Work began this month and will
continue each night through early March (weather permitting). SHA is closing
the lanes on the Inner and Outer Loops between exit 28 (MD 650/New Hampshire
Avenue) and exit 30 (US 29/Colesville Road) at the following times:
- One lane at 9 p.m.;
- Two lanes at 10 p.m.; and
- Three lanes at midnight.
The work also requires intermittent
15-minute complete lane closures between midnight and 4 a.m. All travel lanes will reopen each day no
later than 5 a.m. Drivers should consider MD 650 or US 29 as alternate routes
during the overnight lane closures.
SHA Installing New Pedestrian Crossing on Connecticut Avenue
The State Highway Administration is
installing a pedestrian-activated warning signal and painted crosswalk on
Connecticut Avenue at Lenox Street, just north of Chevy Chase Village Hall. The
project is expected to take about six weeks.
All work will be completed between
9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. While crews are working, the left
travel lanes along both northbound and southbound Connecticut Avenue will be
closed to traffic for work safety reasons. No roadway closures are anticipated
for East and West Lenox streets.
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| Screenshot Via Google Maps - Pedestrian warning lights are coming to this Chevy Chase Village crosswalk. |
American Heart Association to Sponsor National Walking Day in April
Save the date: The American Heart
Association will kick off a month-long campaign for health that begins with National
Walking Day on April 6. Learn more.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Go Montgomery *SPECIAL EDITION* February 2, 2016
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Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.
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